ciplantgo: plant-based lifestyle in Japan 日本での菜食ライフスタイル

ciplantgo: plant-based lifestyle in Japan 日本での菜食ライフスタイル

By ciplantgoSociety & Culture
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ciplantgo: plant-based lifestyle in Japan 日本での菜食ライフスタイル episodes

  • ciplantgo#11: 猪狩圭一郎―常識を常に伺うこと
    猪狩圭一郎さんと会って最初に話したのは、タンパク質とアミノ酸についてでした。ただし、ヴィーガンがよく聞かれるようなタンパク質の質問ではなくて、より詳しい話でした。当時鶏肉も魚も食べていた圭一郎さんは、その初TVMの数カ月後、それらを食べないようにしました。だが、変わっていないのは、彼は常に常識を疑って、自分が十分納得行かないことを実践しないところです。
    このエピソードでは、出会った時の圭一郎さんの食習慣、彼がTVMに参加した動機、圭一郎さんが哺乳類を食べないようになった頃のソーシャルライフ、初TVMの印象とその当時のタンパク質やアミノ酸に関する考え方、圭一郎さんが鶏肉と魚をやめたこと、魚と漁業、卵産業に関する倫理、消費者として工場畜産への影響、イソフラボンのこと、豆の栄養価値、菜食ベースの食習慣にバラエティーが必要なこと、現在の圭一郎さんの職業とキャリアプラン、と鬱病について話しました。
    圭一郎さんと一時間ちょっと話して本当に面白かったです。皆さんも、この話し合いを同じように聞いていただければと思います。
     
    - イントロ
    - 0:01:40s - 2018年5月、出会った時の圭一郎さんの食習慣
    - 0:04:20s - 初TVMと、イベントに参加した動機
    - 0:05:10s - 圭一郎さんが哺乳類を食べないようになった時のソーシャルライフ
    - 0:06:25s - 初TVMの印象
    - 0:09:50s - 当時の圭一郎さんのタンパク質やアミノ酸に関する考え方
    - 0:11:30s - 鶏肉と魚をやめたこと
    - 0:13:20s - 魚について
    - 0:20:25s - 卵について：動物性タンパク質がより吸収しやすいかどうか、またはそれは卵を食べてもいい理由になるかどうか
    - 0:40:10s - ヴィーガンオプションありのお店に行く＝工場畜産を加担する？
    - 0:51:45s - イソフラボンについて
    - 0:56:30s - 豆について
    - 0:58:50s - 菜食の食習慣にはバラエティーが必要（腸内細菌について）
    - 1:06:25s - 現在の圭一郎さんの職業とキャリアプラン
    - 1:12:15s - 鬱病について
    - 1:14:30s - 色々な小質問
     
    イントロ曲："Corporate Japan" by Birocratic (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL)
    追加情報やリンク：
    - Tokyo Vegan Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/fr-FR/vegan-389/
    - 圭一郎さんのFacebook（気軽に連絡してください！、と圭一郎さんが言ってくれました）: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100030456740751
    - 英語になりますが、卵に関する事実（だと思いますが）は以下のリンク参照
    http://wtamu.edu/~cbaird/sq/2013/11/21/why-did-evolution-create-a-chicken-that-lays-so-many-unfertilized-eggs-when-that-is-so-wasteful/?fbclid=IwAR2Rm_HnQIiizKoUWY3x_C0Z81Qb2CfzLtvLS21mI0q-EhgYnhCR4nZSHxc
    https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/what-does-a-hen-do-with-her-unfertilised-eggs-10100975.html?fbclid=IwAR263izOxCsUSfPn6wahgLXcRlR5_I77BfDqai5kG-ZOVKgQnIOXJdSyA-4
    https://www.popsci.com/cage-free-chicken-stronger-bones?fbclid=IwAR1aHXGJP4C-TxmIGC8ARjVw-aIazoB8HzYMc2XYDc9WbxZ25mTT5Pqm0OA
    https://kb.rspca.org.au/do-layer-hens-suffer-from-bone-problems_569.html?fbclid=IwAR3msQmzpJXrgXXk90keNt3pAh5I4E5zTu7AwLWVXoSyNNTUO04cULp_rsU
    - 英語になりますが、イソフラボンに関する事実（だと思いますが）は以下のリンク参照
    https://nutritionfacts.org/video/soy-hormones-male-infertility/?fbclid=IwAR3XFFvppUH4qBoE8d0DIgdgs8yHIaVKFkXt05Uu1tJUV7d7NKBtfRMFmp4
    https://nutritionfacts.org/2013/02/19/how-much-soy-is-too-much/?fbclid=IwAR09g8wDnXWohMifVrwuJM4Txpa-HN0hFwjGDBqTVe1gOFj1UJLgyhAPCc0
    - 豆の数種類の栄養素（脂質少し！）：https://www.mame.or.jp/eiyou/eiyou.html
    - Vegan Tokyo: https://vegantokyo.org/
    - ciplantgo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciplantgo/
    1 hr 21 min
  • ciplantgo#10: Hanna Hakko, Greenpeace Japan coal campaigner - dedicating your career to making a better future
    Hanna Hakko is a coal campaigner for Greenpeace Japan. Upon meeting Hanna for the first time, her profile directly struck me as very unique: born in Finland, where she lived until moving to Japan, Hannah developed early on a keen interest for how human societies are impacting the Earth, and decided to work defending our blue planet for the generations to come.
    The episode starts with a description of Hanna’s current job, what she brings to Greenpeace Japan as a foreigner, how they are communicating with Japanese companies and banks, and a summary of her first year on the job. The discussion then addresses the impact of the Fukushima power plant catastrophe on Japanese energy production, the importance of individual and political actions in acting against global warming, Hanna’s path to Greenpeace and Japan, her impressions after having lived one year in the country, what she enjoys here, her path to veganism, being a vegan in Japan, leading an ethical life and the importance of drawing a line between acting to make the world a better place and nurturing yourself, other jobs that Hanna thought about doing, the health impact of becoming vegan, a typical Hanna day, her take on the future of Japanese / world energy production, and finally a few rapid fire questions.
    Discussing with Hanna was both extremely interesting, and very fun. I hope you will enjoy listening to the episode as much as I did recording it.
    Content
    - Introduction
    - 0:00:00s - Hannah’s job description: coal campaigner for Greenpeace Japan
                    0:01:55s - About the value Hannah is bringing that a Japanese could/would not
                    0:04:40s - About interacting with Japanese companies as a foreigner, and as an NGO
                    0:09:15s - A summary about Hannah’s first year working in Japan
                    0:13:05s - About the use of coal and energy consumption after the Fukushima debacle
    - 0:16:30s - About the importance of individual actions compared to political changes
    - 0:21:10s - Hannah’s path to Greenpeace and Japan
    - 0:23:40s - Hannah’s impression of her first year in Japan
    - 0:30:25s - About what Hannah’s enjoying in Japan
    - 0:33:50s - Hannah’s path to veganism
    - 0:45:45s - Hannah’s experience of being vegan in Japan: convenience, change in diet, sense of identity
    - 0:58:30s - Leading an ethical life: where to draw the line, and how to find balance between acting in the world and nurturing yourself
    - 1:17:00s - Other job(s) Hannah would have liked to do.
    - 1:20:10s - The most positive thing Hannah got out of becoming vegan
    - 1:28:00s - Health effects of becoming vegan experienced by Hannah
    - 1:33:45s - A typical Hannah day.
                    1:36:30s - About lifestyles/habits that are more needed than not when you are a human being.
    - 1:41:00s - Hannah’s take on what the future of energy in Japan/the world will look like.
    - 1:46:00s - Rapid fire questions.
     
    Introduction BGM: "Corporate Japan" by Birocratic (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL)
    Additional notes and links
    - The Pink Cow: http://www.thepinkcow.com/
    - The clinic Hanna had her recent check-up at, Sendagaya International Clinic: http://www.sendagaya-ic.com/en/
    - Tokyo Vegan Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/fr-FR/vegan-389/
    - Vegan Tokyo: https://vegantokyo.org/
    - ciplantgo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciplantgo/
    1 hr 54 min
  • ciplantgo#9: 大谷有紀恵―動物への想いを実現化すべく
    大谷有紀恵さんは、海外で動物福祉を勉強しにいったほど、動物のために尽したい気持ちの強い人です。小さいころから、動物が周りのみんなより好きだというふうに感じていて、日本社会では目立ちすぎないように、長年それらの気持ちを抑えました。「端的に話すのが苦手」だとシェアしてくれた有紀恵さんと1時間ちょっと話してみたら、彼女が体験してきた人生を部分的に垣間見えて、感動しました。皆さんも、このインタビューを同じように聞いていただければと思います。
    このエピソードでは、有紀恵さんの動物への想いの原点、自分の独特性に気付くこと、日本の大学での農学勉強とヴィーガンになったきっかけ、ヴィーガンとしての社交的なチャレンジ、エジンバラでの動物福祉の勉強、日本での就職と転職した理由、ヴィーガンとして健康であることの大切さ、などのトピックに触れました。
    - イントロ
    - 0:02:45s - 有紀恵さんは動物が好きになった初記憶
    - 0:07:45s - 周りの人がより動物好きではないことに気づく、と自分らしさを大事にすること
    - 0:13:50s - 農学を日本の大学で勉強：動機、学習内容やヴィーガンになったきっかけなど
    - 0:21:30s - お肉に対する姿勢：ヴィーガンになるまでは考えないように
    - 0:28:10s - ヴィーガンであることを他人に滅多に話さない理由
    - 0:31:00s - 周りの人に菜食主義者がいなかったこと
    - 0:31:40s - 大学での畜産動物の世話について：工場畜産の現場から離れた体験のみ
    - 0:36:20s - 進学の選択：エジンバラへ、最難のチャレンジ、最高の出会い
    - 0:47:35s - 卒業後の初仕事の希望と現実：どうして普通の仕事に就いたか
    - 0:54:50s - 転職を決めたきっかけ：動物のためになる仕事が見つかればなぁ～
    - 1:05:00s - 16年前の東京の現在の東京のヴィーガン生活、とこれからの日本
    - 1:09:10s - 健康であるヴィーガンについて
    - 1:16:05s - 色々な小質問
     
    イントロ曲："Corporate Japan" by Birocratic (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL)
    追加情報やリンク：
    - Tokyo Vegan Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/fr-FR/vegan-389/
    - Yukie Otani FB: https://www.facebook.com/yukie.otani.5
    - Vegan Tokyo: https://vegantokyo.org/
    - ciplantgo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciplantgo/
    1 hr 25 min
  • ciplantgo#8: Pascal Rosier, businessman / passionate vegan - roots, connection, meditation, compassion
    Pascal Rosier, businessman running the company Business Wire, is one of the most passionate vegan I have met in Japan. In addition to being very smart - Pascal speaks more than 5 languages - he is also tall, quite muscular, and always displays a very compassionate smile upon his face, which illustrates his love for all living beings. The few short discussions I had with him during Tokyo Vegan meetups made me eager to hear more about his story, so I naturally asked him to be on the podcast.
    This interview is mostly centered around Pascal’s story from childhood to his life in Japan. On the way, we make brief stops about his current job, children and their motivation to learn, the importance of role models, the value of traveling to gain new perspectives, the experience of living in Japan as a foreigner, the challenges of being the only vegan among your intimate social circle, mock animal products, and the rise of veganism worldwide.
    Pascal’s story was really interesting to me. It was a very valuable learning experience to hear him share his views, their origin, and how they came to be. I hope you will find our lengthy discussion as enjoyable as I did.
    Content
    - Introduction
    - 0:01:40s - Pascal’s background, part 1: roots in Martinique, childhood in Germany.
    - 0:03:00s - Pascal’s job in Japan.
    - 0:04:50s - Pascal’s background, part 2: life in Germany and family background.
    - 0:17:20s - How I can relate to Pascal’s experience as a kid; on the topic of children, their environment and motivation.
    - 0:20:30s - Pascal’s background, part 3: path to East France, Martinique, then back to Paris.
    - 0:28:10s - My view on the need of role model(s)
    - 0:31:50s - Pascal’s background, part 4: about his father
    - 0:33:00s - About the value of gaining perspective from traveling
    - 0:41:20s - Pascal’s background, part 5: Paris - Japan - Paris - Japan; is France more open minded than Japan, or the other way around?... and how to connect with people
    - 1:06:00s - Living in Japan is to be floating above society
    - 1:16:05s - Pascal’s family in Japan, part 1 - how meaningful roots make life more colorful
    - 1:21:50s - Pascal’s path to veganism - the role of meditation, the power of compassion, and stepping back from your beliefs
    - 2:03:45s - Challenges as the only vegan in one’s household / (romantic) relationship - the importance of connection
    - 2:18:10s - About mock meat and milk, about cheese...
    - 2:30:10s - Veganism becoming normal - soon in Japan too?
     
    Introduction BGM: "Corporate Japan" by Birocratic (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL)
    Additional notes and links
    - Pascal Rosier on the Business Wire website: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181031005394/en/Business-Wire-Names-Pascal-Rosier-General-Manager
    - Tokyo Vegan Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/fr-FR/vegan-389/
    - Vegan Tokyo: https://vegantokyo.org/
    - ciplantgo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciplantgo/
    2 hr 36 min
  • ciplantgo#7: Traci Consoli, visual and food artist - spirituality, and hospitality for all food lovers with the Pink Cow
    Traci Consoli is an artist and the owner of the Pink Cow, one of the first vegan friendly restaurant in Tokyo. Traci moved from California to Japan a long time ago, thinking of staying only a short while. Fate would decide otherwise, as she met, then married, a Japanese rock star. Fast forward a few years later, she opens the Pink Cow, mainly to have a place for her community to share good food, and to grow further. From the start, she wanted the Pink Cow to cater for the needs of every and any diet, something quite uncommon in Japan at the time - and still nowadays. Long story short, her restaurant became the venue for the monthly Tokyo Vegan Meetups, every first Thursday of the month.
    This interview starts with us addressing the elephant in the room: why is Traci, who is not plant-based, on the show. Then we move on to Traci’s path to Japan and the opening of the Pink Cow, what Japan means to her, her lifestyle, her take on everything plant-based, what it was like for the Pink Cow to be located in Roppongi for a few years, how the relocation in Akasaka has been working out so far, potential future plans for the Pink Cow, what does a typical Traci day look like, Traci’s business and life recommendations, and finally a few rapid fire questions.
    Traci’s story was fascinating in many ways, and it was a real pleasure to discover what kind of person is behind the Pink Cow, its great food, and the colorful art displayed on its walls.
    (One last note: I was mildly coughing from time to time, so I tried to cut the worst of it out; it might make some edited part sound a little unnatural)
     
    Content
    - Introduction
    - 0:01:37s - Addressing the elephant in the room: why is Traci, who is not ‘plant-based’, on the show?... the Pink Cow’s role in Tokyo’s plant-based scene.
    - 0:09:10s - Traci’s path to her life in Japan.
                    - Studying art and religious philosophy in California.
                    - How she ended up married to a rockstar.
                    - 0:10:35s - How the Pink Cow started.
                    - 0:11:50s - What interested Traci in East Asia religious studies?
                    - 0:13:50s - When did Traci came in contact with what she views as Eastern philosophy.
                    - 0:19:30s - What struck Traci living in Japan about Japanese people and spirituality.
    - 0:22:40s - What Japan represents for Traci.
    - 0:23:15s - Traci’s lifestyle.
    - 0:24:50s - Traci’s take on plant-based stuff: why the Pink Cow had from very early on vegetarian and vegan food.
                    - 0:26:20s - How the Pink Cow started to host vegan meetups.
                    - 0:31:00s - On the impact of your consumer choices, and going to vegan friendly places rather than 100% vegan ones.
    - 0:36:20s - How being in Roppongi impacted the Pink Cow business
    - 0:39:20 - About having relocated in Akasaka
    - 0:40:30s - A Pink Cow franchise in the future?
    - 0:43:15s - A typical Traci day
    - 0:45:10s - Traci’s drive to go forward
    - 0:47:55s - Traci’s business and life recommendations
    - 0:51:30s - Rapid fire questions.
     
    Introduction BGM: "Corporate Japan" by Birocratic (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL)
     
    Additional notes and links
    - The Pink Cow: http://www.thepinkcow.com/
    - Tokyo Vegan Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/fr-FR/vegan-389/
    - Vegan Tokyo: https://vegantokyo.org/
    - ciplantgo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciplantgo/
    1 hr 2 min
  • ciplantgo#6: 小野瑠璃―健康が原点で、オーストラリア滞在を通してヴィーガンライフスタイルの普及を仕事に
    プラントベースライフスタイルの普及を仕事にした小野瑠璃さんに初めて会ったのは、TVMのさおりさんと一緒に、僕の定期的なサルサレッスンとソーシャルイベントへ来てくれたときでした。そして、その数カ月後もう一度会って、話してみたら、東京のプラントベース界において大事な活動をしていることに気付き、ぜひポッドキャストのゲストになってほしいと思いました。
    このエピソードでは、瑠璃さんの仕事を紹介してから、彼女のプラントベースライフスタイルへの道、オーストラリアでの滞在と現在の仕事との関係、プラントベース活動に関する考え方、仕事のより具体的な話、菜食主義者としてのソーシャルライフ、僕のヴィーガンとしての初数ヶ月と日本へ辿り着いた理由、瑠璃さんが海外で長年滞在して得たマインドセット、そしてキュバンサルサとの出会い、という内容を提供します。
    インタビューを聞いてみたら、二人共は結構緊張していたことがわかると思います。瑠璃さんがインタビューされるのに慣れていないことと、僕にとってインタビューを日本語で行うのが初めてだったことはその原因でした。そのためか、瑠璃さんが改まった日本語で話していましたが、僕はいつもどおりの砕けた話し方にしてしまいました。彼女に合わせたほうがよかったのではないかと思いますが、それはともかく、内容的に興味深いエピソードでした。皆さんに面白く聞いていただけると願っています。
    - イントロ
    - 0:02:20s - 瑠璃さんのプラントベース関係仕事の紹介
    - 0:09:30s - プラントベースライフスタイルへの道：テレビ番組からオーストラリアへ:
                    0:12:15s - 「トマトを食べましょう」テレビ番組
                    0:12:40s - 瑠璃さんの家族とお肉
                    0:17:15s - 沖縄での食料自足経験
                    0:18:20s - プラントベースライフスタイルのソーシャルライフへの影響
                    0:21:45s - 概念としての「ヴィーガニズム」を初めて考えた瑠璃さん―「全部に繋がってる」
    - 0:23:30s - オーストラリアでの7年間滞在と現在の仕事の繋がり
    - 0:24:45s - 瑠璃さんにとってのプラントベースライフスタイル：社交性を第一に
    - 0:37:10s - 頂いているもののすべてへの感謝の気持ちについて
    - 0:39:25s - 瑠璃さんの仕事に戻って。。。
                    どんな日常？
                    0:40:10s - どんな商品とサービスを提供しているか
                    0:43:30s - どんな職員なのか
                    0:44:20s - プラントベースライフスタイルに関して、日本会社や日本人を相手に、一番通じるメッセージとは？
                    0:45:30s - これから瑠璃さんが努めている会社が発売する予定の商品：だれでも楽しめるものを第一に
    - 0:46:05s - 「楽しい」と「おいしい」はより効果的なアクティビズムのキーワード―人間心理を考える
    - 0:51:05s - 瑠璃さんのソーシャルライフ―ヴィガンメッセージに柔軟性を取り入れた成果
    - 0:53:27s - 僕のヴィーガンとしての初数ヶ月
    - 0:55:50s - 僕が日本へ辿り着いた理由を短くに
    - 1:01:03s - 瑠璃さんのオーストラリアへの関心―海外に住んで変わった世界観
                    1:07:55s - 7年間滞在後の帰国―どんな印象や心境か
    - 1:12:40s - 瑠璃さんとキューバンサルサとの出会い―僕とキューバンサルサとの再開、そして社交ダンスのやりがい
    - 1:17:25s - 色々な小質問
     
    イントロ曲："Corporate Japan" by Birocratic (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL)
    追加ノートやリンク：
    - Tokyo Vegan Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/fr-FR/vegan-389/
    - Vegan Lounge Tokyo: http://veganlounge-tokyo.strikingly.com/
    - Terra Foods: https://www.terrafoods.shop/
    - Vegan Tokyo: https://vegantokyo.org/
    - ciplantgo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciplantgo/
    1 hr 22 min
  • ciplantgo#5: Darcy Kishida, from meat eater/vegetables hater, to vegan - thinking about, and acting based on ethics
    Darcy Kishida is a Hawaii born US lawyer living in Tokyo since 2010. The first time Darcy and I met was in the context of my teacher job - his children are currently attending the school I work at. Us introducing each other as vegans happened the second time we met though, at a Tokyo Vegan Meetup picnic. Darcy is one of the meetups most ancient members, having attended the monthly Pink Cow gatherings for about 5 years, at a time when that was the only event organized. His origins, job, family situation and experience within the plant-based community makes Darcy a very interesting person to talk with, and I was really glad he accepted to be one of ciplantgo’s first guests.
    This episode of the podcast is a bit different than previous ones in that it is more a discussion than an interview. Darcy expressed his preference for the former, and I happily agreed on making our couple of hours together an exchange of points of views. Our conversation covers a wide range of topics: why I choose the name ciplantgo, when and in which context I went vegan, Darcy’s background and path to veganism, his take on how to be his family’s only vegan, factory farming in Japan, the difference between veganism and religion, the importance of always keeping an open mind, everything health related, where to draw the line in not killing animals, the relation between ethics and feelings, the matter of suffering, and finally Darcy’s favorite eating out spots in town.
    I enjoyed every bit of my discussion with Darcy, and I’m sure he will be back on the show in the future. I hope you will find our conversation interesting as well.
    - Introduction
    - 0:00:00s - Why ‘ciplantgo’?
    - 0:01:05s - How I met Darcy.
                     Our approach to running and training.
                     0:04:15s - When and in which context I became ‘a 100%’ vegan, and then joined Tokyo Vegan Meetup events.
    - 0:08:00s - Darcy’s background and path to veganism.
                     0:09:10s - Darcy’s staple food for 40 years - meat / rice / bread - and how he felt about it.
                     0:12:35s - Discussing the matter of animal based food with a plant-based friend and how it participated in Darcy giving up meat in 2009.
                     0:14:40s - On the matter of cognitive dissonance.
                     0:15:40s - What drives people to become vegan… then dropping it?
                     0:17:00s - Being used/comfortable to be unusual to be vegan, and how Darcy felt different from early on.
                     0:21:00s - What changed in his diet once Darcy became vegetarian… and how ‘easy’ it was compared to veganism.
                     0:23:00s - How Darcy felt about his vegetarianism at the time - of the hierarchy of living beings.
                     0:27:30s - Attending a Tokyo Vegan Meetup event for the first time, and how it lead to Darcy to go towards veganism.
                     0:30:15s - The case of honey.
                     0:33:15s - How turning vegan changed Darcy’s everyday habits.
    - 0:35:00s - About Darcy’s family - addressing or not the topic of veganism with them.
    - 0:40:50s - How most Japanese have a positive and distorted image of the facts about factory farming in Japan - is there  a need to expose yourself to the reality of the industry?
    - 0:47:20s - Veganism is a no brainer once you reconnect with where the meat comes from.
    - 0:53:40s - About the difference between veganism and religion.
    - 0:54:40s - Exploring grey areas of veganism - the case of oysters.
    - 1:00:15s - About keeping an open mind, and how it shaped my adult life… and got my father to reduce his animal products consumption.
    - 1:06:45s - Darcy’s mother adopting a more plant-based diet to prevent cancer.
    - 1:08:50s - Some animal products is better for health than none: a common misconception?
                     1:11:55s - What if veganism was unhealthy?
                     1:14:05s - On the importance of health for a good life, and in advocating for a plant-based lifestyle.
                     1:16:30s - About B12.
                     1:21:00s - The best diet: what/who to trust? … and how to advocate best for a plant-based diet: science or facts/examples?
    - 1:31:00s - How far do we go to not kill animals: the case of rats and insects - speciesism.
    - 1:44:40s - Being vegan and eating animals accidently killed: more a matter of ethics or feelings?
    - 1:47:15s - Do plants suffer? … and how to measure/value suffering.
    - 1:49:10s - Rapid fire questions.
     
    Introduction BGM: "Corporate Japan" by Birocratic (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL)
    Additional notes and links
    - Tokyo Vegan Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/fr-FR/vegan-389/
    - Vegan Tokyo: https://vegantokyo.org/
    - ciplantgo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciplantgo/
    1 hr 57 min
  • ciplantgo#4: Nadia McKechnie, Tokyo Vegan Meetup host extraordinaire - 30 years of plant-based lifestyle in Japan
    Nadia McKechnie is a professional educational writer and voice-actor, and organizer extraordinaire of Tokyo Vegan Meetup.
    Should you attend one of the TVM events, chances are you will be greeted by her warm and welcoming smile. Nadia displays some of the best hosting skills out there, making sure that newcomers feel among friends and find people to connect with.
    In this interview, after a quick presentation of Tokyo Vegan Meetup, we cover her path to Japan and how it shaped her career, her perception of how much Japan changed during her 30 years in the country, her way into a plant-based lifestyle, and how it worked out for her in Japanese society and within her own family, her involvement in animal rights activism, and we finally go back to Tokyo Vegan Meetup before ending by one rapid fire question.
    During meetups Nadia is always very busy being an awesome host, so having the opportunity to sit down and talk with her for a little more than an hour was a real pleasure for me. I hope it will be as interesting and enjoyable to you.
     
    - Introduction
    - 0:01:43s - Nadia’s presentation of Tokyo Vegan Meetup in a nutshell
    - 0:02:13s - Nadia’s path to Japan… starting 30 years ago, and how it shaped her career opportunities and choices
    - 0:06:58s - Nadia’s perception of what changed in Japan throughout her 30 years living there; emphasis on the economic side of things on how it impacted the workplace (freeters).
    - 0:12:28s - Nadia’s path to a plant-based diet and animal rights activism
                     0:19:43s - How mentally challenging it is to be vegan in our current society: choose your battles, and aim gradually higher as you get comfortable where you are.
                     0:23:43s - Circumstances that lead Nadia to go vegan.
                     0:26:33s - Why being vegan is ultimately easier and more convenient than not… in a yet to come world
                     0:31:33s - Nadia’s social circle in Japan and how it impacted her lifestyle choices; challenges living as a loose vegetarian in Japan… or lack thereof?
                     0:38:03s - Raising a vegetarian child in Japan
                     0:40:48s - Interacting with family as a vegan
    - 0:49:03s - Animal rights activism in Japan, and the terrible animal welfare condition in the country
    - 0:57:33s - About cognitive dissonance, and how addressing this issue regarding diet choices can lead to more happiness and fulfillment
    - 1:04:03s - Nadia’s first experience attending Tokyo Vegan Meetup, how she came to be organizer, and what kind of help is she and Saori looking for to expand the group’s activity
     
    Introduction BGM: "Corporate Japan" by Birocratic (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL)
    Additional notes and links
    - Tokyo Vegan Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/fr-FR/vegan-389/
    - Vegan Tokyo: https://vegantokyo.org/
    - ciplantgo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciplantgo/
    1 hr 18 min
  • ciplantgo#3: Rohan Mehra, science communicator, and surreptitious vegan cook
    Rohan Mehra is a science communicator currently working at Tokyo University. Upon meeting Rohan at a Tokyo Vegan Meetup, he immediately struck me as a very smart and eloquent person. And after discussing for a few minutes about what he is doing in Japan - working towards making Tokyo University more prevalent on the international academic scene - I knew that such an uncommon profile would make Rohan a very interesting guest for the podcast.
    In this interview, we cover Rohan’s professional path to Japan, the circumstances that saw him choose vegetarianism when he was about 5 years old, his experience as a vegan in Japan and what it taught him about the Japanese mindset, and both his and my take on activism, before ending by a few rapid fire questions.
    I really enjoyed my conversation with Rohan and I found him to be a very interesting guest. I hope you will enjoy listening to this discussion as much as I did having it!
     
    - Introduction
    - 0:01:02s - Rohan’s professional path, interest in Japan, and how he ended up working for Tokyo University
    - 0:11:27s - Rohan’s view on researchers’ mentality in Japan
    - 0:12:37s - Rohan’s path to veganism...starting at 5 years old!
                      0:14:42s - About meat being more hidden in the West than in Asian countries, and how this impacts the level of awareness regarding where our food comes from         
                      0:20:42s - Why Japanese food was interesting to Rohan as a teenage vegetarian in the UK
    - 0:22:32s - Rohan’s first experience of Japan as a vegan, and the conclusions he came to through it
                      The problem of unreadable / unreliable labels
                      0:25:17s - Animal based products used in almost all processed foods
                      0:28:42s - Japan and business as usual: avoid making waves
                      0:30:52s - Processed based philosophy in the business world… and in Japanese traditional arts / crafts
                      0:34:42s - Buddhism prevalent in Japanese culture, and how it does not translates into more care for animals
                      0:37:42s - How different is the state of all things vegan in Japan compared to Rohan’s expectation before travelling in the country
                      0:40:12s - Back to labels on Japanese products, and how they do not list every ingredient
                      0:43:42s - To which point should one aim to be vegan: white sugar or not, …
                      0:49:32s - Rohan’s take on Japanese reaction to and acceptance of his veganism so far
    - 0:58:12s - Our take on (soft) activism
                      Rohan’s culinary and sneaky approach
                      1:16:00s - The state of things at Tokyo University’s cafeteria
    - 1:19:07s - Rohan’s view on the future of veganism in Japan
    - 1:22:27s - About B12 / supplements
    - 1:24:52s - About blood work
    - 1:26:27s - Rohan’s favorite word
    - 1:27:32s - Something Rohan is not good at
    - 1:30:02s - Rohan’s favorite eating out places in Tokyo (segwaying into ethical concerns about food)
    - 1:38:02s - Last words about ‘carnism’
     
    Introduction BGM: "Corporate Japan" by Birocratic (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL)
    Additional notes and links
    - Tokyo Vegan Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/fr-FR/vegan-389/
    - Vegan Tokyo: https://vegantokyo.org/
    - ciplantgo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciplantgo/
    - Dr. Melanie Joy - ‘Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows’ is the book brought up towards the end of the episode
    1 hr 43 min
  • ciplantgo#2: Kano Sekine - turning vegan alone in Japan 10 years ago
    Kano Sekine, currently working for a Japanese to English translation company in Tokyo, has been vegan in Japan since 2010. Even today, in 2018, veganism is still a very unknown - or at least misunderstood - concept in Japan. So when I heard that not only had Kano become vegan while being in Japan almost 10 years ago, but that along the way her parents went plant-based as well, I knew she would make a very interesting guest for the podcast.
    In this interview, we cover her path to veganism, and focus especially on when and how her mindset changed in regards to animal products. She also talks about how her practical and social life changed as she went vegan, and explains how her parents came to lead a mostly plant based lifestyle. Then, we finally end the podcast by some rapid fire questions.
    This was a very interesting podcast for me, as I am fascinated with what makes people - me included - act the way they do. If, like me, there is a part of what brought you to veganism now and not earlier that you cannot clearly explain, or if you simply are curious about how one Japanese managed to become - and stay! - vegan in a country that barely knows what it means, I am sure you will find Kano’s story interesting as well.
    After listening to her own interview, Kano asked me to add the following corrections and extra information to her answers, so that to avoid any misinterpretation of her story and views.
    - When talking about the consumption of eggs and dairy, she says in the interview that she continued to eat eggs or milk until September 2009; this is not accurate, she had them until around New Year 2010.
    - About her aunt, who she presents in the interview as being vegetarian, Kano adds: “my aunt, the yoga instructor, has been a health conscious practitioner of macrobiotics and has been keeping her macrobiotic diet for ethical reasons too since I introduced her to veganism.”
    - Kano’s last addition addresses the end of the interview, where she briefly talks about B12. To her words, she adds: “Though I gave nutritional advice, I believe some vegans are okay not to take b12 supplements. I actually haven’t had any until this Autumn. In East Asia, because people often eat and can digest seaweed products which contain b12, most Japanese vegans stay healthy without supplementing. For example, Japanese Buddhist monks in zen temples have followed a plant based diet for a long long time without tablets of B12.”
    About this added comment, remember that it is Kano’s views on the matter of B12. Neither of us are health professionals, and you should always seek advice from a qualified doctor regarding serious health matters.
    Lastly, before jumping into the interview, keep in mind that Kano is expressing somehow complex ideas and feelings in a foreign language. I know first hand how challenging an exercise this can be, which is why I allowed myself to, sometimes, help her find her words or “finish” her sentences; each time making sure with her that I did not misinterpret her thoughts.
     
    - Introduction, corrections and additions to some of Kano’s answers (her consumption of dairy/eggs and her views on B12, among other)
    - 0:03:20s - Kano’s path to veganism
                    0:06:00s - Encountering the concept of veganism for the first time, abroad
                    0:08:20s - Going plant-based after watching ‘Our Daily Bread’: what in that documentary decided Kano to act?
                    0:13:50s - Kano’s representation of where animal products come from before going vegan
                    0:18:30s - Kano’s opinion on ‘ethical’ meat
                    0:21:13s - First few days after the documentary: how did Kano feel and eat
                    0:23:00s - Why did she not go vegan from the start?
                    0:29:55s - Coming out socially as a vegetarian/vegan
    - 0:38:00s - How, and why, did Kano’s parents go plant-based
    - 0:42:05s - Reaching out to family: ethical or health arguments?
    - 0:50:45s - How did becoming vegan change Kano’s diet and eating lifestyle
    - 0:54:10s - Being the only vegan in Japan you know… until joining Tokyo Vegan Meetup
    - 1:01:45s - Eating out vegan in Yokohama/Tokyo in 2010
    - 1:06:15s - Most positive/negative thing of having become vegan
    - 1:11:30 - Rapid fire questions
    - 1:25:30 - Last words about B12 (see introduction for an update about this)
     
    Introduction BGM: "Corporate Japan" by Birocratic (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL)
     Additional notes and links
    - Tokyo Vegan Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/fr-FR/vegan-389/
    - Vegan Tokyo: https://vegantokyo.org/
    - ciplantgo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciplantgo/
    1 hr 29 min

About ciplantgo: plant-based lifestyle in Japan 日本での菜食ライフスタイル

From the publisher's feed

Cipango (a poetic name for Japan) + ‘plant-based lifestyle’ = ciplantgo, a podcast aimed at introducing people living a plant-based lifestyle in Japan.日本で菜食ライフスタイルを送っている人々のインタビューを中心にしたポッドキャスト。